Theology Part 1 - Pilgrimage
Theology Part 1 - Pilgrimage
Pilgrimage today is a journey in which a man/woman undertakes in order to do one of several things. These are from spiritual forgiveness to an act of penance for the person's sins, which they have committed. But is Christianity it is not compulsory to undertake a pilgrimage, in Hinduism and Islam it is, so many people do not go on a pilgrimage due to this and not wanting to go, as it is not compulsory. For some Christian denominations it is more important to go on a pilgrimage, the Roman Catholic Church believes strongly in pilgrimages but other parts of the Catholic Church such as the Church of England do not consider pilgrimage to be such an important part of their religion. Many people don't go on pilgrimages because they don't have time for them and that they are put off by the long way they have to go.
Canterbury Cathedral is a Great Cathedral and has been a well-known site for pilgrims for many hundreds of years. It was the first Cathedral and was built by St Augustine in the year 597. It became even more famous when Thomas Becket was murdered brutally by 4 knights in 1170, also it was made worse that he was murdered in a Cathedral, which was against societies morals and against the law. Also many people go to the Cathedral as it has many different styles, due to parts falling down and parts being hit in wars.
People, ...
This is a preview of the whole essay
Canterbury Cathedral is a Great Cathedral and has been a well-known site for pilgrims for many hundreds of years. It was the first Cathedral and was built by St Augustine in the year 597. It became even more famous when Thomas Becket was murdered brutally by 4 knights in 1170, also it was made worse that he was murdered in a Cathedral, which was against societies morals and against the law. Also many people go to the Cathedral as it has many different styles, due to parts falling down and parts being hit in wars.
People, as an act of forgiveness, some times go on a pilgrimage to Canterbury Cathedral and they pray to God for any sins that they have committed, to be forgiven and asking for forgiveness. This can be done in many ways from praying to their favorite statue to doing or bring some thing special, to them, and leaving it there to show that you want to be healed or forgiven.
Many people travel to Canterbury to see all of its beauty and how big it is. The Cathedral, which is a wonder, the site where Thomas Becket was martyred, as people can see where a saint has been killed, Becket's tomb, and to see where he is buried, the site of the shrine, to see where his shrine once was and the miracle windows, as they are very old and awe-inspiring windows. They may want to go there to see these sites and pray to them. While they are there they can look at the Cathedral and see how awesome it is, most would want to go to Thomas Becket's tomb and pray to it for forgiveness or to be healed from a disease that the pilgrim has.
A contemporary pilgrim may get there by car, train or a bus, although some may walk to the Cathedral from Walsingham, as this is a traditional route pilgrim's used to take.
They go there to be forgiven, pray, seek forgiveness and be healed. This is what pilgrims used to do and will probably continue in the future. What is done today has many roots from what was done in the past.
A Muslim pilgrim would go there and pray to their God.
Canterbury has been adapted to suit peoples needs, such as there are specially trained people who deal with people who want a hand with praying or have special needs such as a disabled person. Canterbury Cathedral is the most important Cathedral in England as it was the first, one of the biggest and is a massive focal point attracting many people to Canterbury.
At Canterbury you can do many things such as being anointed with oil, take part in a specific intercession, asking for forgiveness or targeting prayers, Modern disabled
Pilgrims may want to walk the last mile or so in order to complete an act of physical repentance. Other things that can take place are candles are lit to focus love and devotion, stations of the cross, going to many different churches in one day which is a small pilgrimage, images may be processed through the Cathedral and you can visit the shrine which the older pilgrims used to do. These last points all concentrate the mind on God and him only.
Tourists visit Canterbury Cathedral, as it is a traditional English site, it is a way of getting tourists into the chapel, people go there to seek the meaning of life. The beauty of history and religion is open up again, the idea of saints and holy places, the history of reformation. Canterbury surviving is a sin that it has a lasting significance in religions.
